Pak must improve fielding or be ready for early flight back: Afridi
By ANISunday, February 27, 2011
COLOMBO - Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has warned his teammates that mistakes in the field similar to those committed during the thrilling 11-run win over Sri Lanka in their World Cup clash may lead to an early return home.
Pakistan spilled catches, missed run-outs and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal twice fumbled with stumpings of Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara in their Group A match on Saturday.
“I think to beat Sri Lanka before a capacity (home) crowd is a big win for us. If we go ahead in the tournament our destination will get tougher and tougher,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Afridi, as saying.
“If we commit the same mistakes then we have to return Pakistan soon. We must improve or else such fielding will not help our cause,” he added.
The 30-year-old further admitted that the fumbling fielding display handed Sri Lanka a chance to move closer to the run target.
“I don’t know why in this match we dropped catches and failed to avail run out chances. We had won 80 per cent of the match at that stage, but that is not the way to field and miss run outs,” Afridi said.
“We should improve. I think 95 per cent of the matches are won by fielding so we must show better performance in the coming matches,” he added. (ANI)
